THIS week in Down Memory Lane we look at Stanford-le-Hope during the Second World War, because that is the theme to this weekend’s Stanford Festival. If you venture to visit and walk around, start at St Margaret’s Parish Church, not only the oldest historic building but go inside and then around the peaceful cemetery and you will discover a rich thread of local community history.

Indeed you can find burials from the Second World War, civilian deaths and some servicemen as well.

Stanford had its on Home Guard unit who trained hard in the early months, expecting enemy parachutists to land on the marshes and attack the oil storage areas as well as occupying the railway station in the town.

Locally many men and women joined the Civil Defence, especially the Air Raid Precaution Service (ensuring the black-out was complied with and helping with rescues should bombing occur), all co-ordinated by the new 1936 created Thurrock Urban District Council.

One council initiative was to remove all finger signs on paths and roads in Thurrock, to confuse and slow down enemy parachutists finding their way to military targets.

My featured photograph shows the stockpile of direction posts. Although some names have been blacked out by the censor in 1940, others are still readable!

You have no excuse for not discovering Stanford and its wonderful community celebrations this Sunday, the council have had all the road signs put back up, so no excuses! Head to the town and have an enjoyable day of fun and discovery.